THE real-life story of a war hero from Barrow has been immortalised in a comic book.

Fantastic Forces – The Longest Road, tells the story of Desert Rat Corporal William ‘Bill’ Livingston', who stormed the beaches of Normandy and liberated Belsen.

Corporal Livingston fought in the 5th Royal Tank Regiment and The Royal Armoured Corps. He was posted to North Africa, where the regiment joined the 7th Armoured Division, better known as the ‘Desert Rats’.

Cpl Livingston fought through Normandy, Italy and Europe before battling his way through to Northern Germany, defeating the Nazis in the spring of 1945.

The story was created in a project by the British Forces Broadcasting Service to help build public awareness of the work and sacrifices of those serving in the Armed Forces over the last century.

BFBS invited people around the globe to share their stories of past or present British military figures who have inspired them.

The competition to find the winner was judged by an expert panel.

One story shone out above all the rest, put forward by Phillip Livingstone about his father. It reveals the horrors of what Cpl Livingston went through including being shot, liberating Belsen Concentration Camp and seeing friends killed His son, Philip Livingstone, entered a competition run by the forces network to produce a comic book of war stories.

Anthony Cotton, soap actor on Coronation Street, is an ambassador for the forces network.

Philip said: “Sitting with Anthony was emotional and very moving.

“He was really nice with it all and he got into the story, it was very positive.

“The whole experience has been wonderful, though emotionally draining.”

Philip said he is proud of his Father’s achievements and is happy his story will be immortalised.

“ I feel so privileged and honoured that my father’s story has been selected. Special acknowledgement to Ferg Handley the story writer, Mike Collins the illustrator and Antony Cotton.

To read Cpl Livingston's story, go to https://stories.forces.net/comic/